Do your kids hate vegetables? Here's our solution; our guide to coping with children's eating difficulties (especially fussy eaters). If you can introduce your children to gardening, especially the growing of vegetables, you may well be lucky enough to engender a lifetime interest.

Gardening

Gardening is a great way to encourage your kids' interest in food, and let them practice responsibility and care-taking. The vegetable-averse youngster can suddenly become interested in eating his/ or her own produce: they know it's not contaminated, for a start - and so do you.

Why to grow

Today, more and more people are returning to growing food. People have re-discovered the pleasure of eating freshly grown vegetables and fruit that has not been raised with the use of a mass of chemicals and has not travelled many hundreds of miles before reaching their plates. The activity and industry that one puts in to gardening is often very rewarding, as it the feeling of being self-sufficient.

For your crildren, this means time away from the television and game consoles, spent in the open air - but in a safe environment. The new interest has been encouraged by TV chefs, who your children might want to emulate.

What to grow

Children will need to be introduced to quick growing, spectacular plants, so vegetables such the marrow family are some of the best. Children will love the independence of watering and nurturing their own plants, and these need a lot of attnetion, though relatively little specialised 'care'. Then, when you cook the marrow, stuff it with something tasty like sausage meat, to keep up its appeal.

Another favourite with children is runner beans. These have a brilliant Jack-and-the-Beanstalk effect and taste delicious. Take them when they're small, and eat as soon as possible. Tomatoes and pumpkins are also favourites, with their tasty outcome and interesting growth.

Where to grow

In towns, many people are so keen to grow their own food that they put their window boxes to this use. Large pots can also be placed on balconies. Best of all, though, are local council allotments, although there are fewer and fewer, and the waiting lists for most tend to be long. If you are lucky enough to rent an allotment, there will be plenty of people around you with enough experience to help you start out.

The demand for allotments is now increasing and if you cannot find an allotment to rent, you could ask an elderly neighbour of their garden needs any care, or has any space in which to cultivate plants. Encouraging your children to take this step will increase their self-confidence and help them learn to make friends.

Related Articles:

If you're looking for tips on children's eating patterns or controlling fussy eaters, we think you'll like the following articles.

Fussy Eaters: The Child that Won’t Eat New Foods

Fussy Eaters: The Child that Won’t Eat Anything Green

Fussy Eaters: The Child that Will Only Eat Miniscule Portions

Children's Eating: How to Make Unhealthy Foods Healthy